CDC tool 'Trashflies style'

Well now. I like to tie CDC flies. They just have a action and performance that can't be matched with other materials.

But

CDC can be a pain in the butt to work with, Some years ago I found out there was a tool for the taming of the feather from a ducks (well you know).

I bought one online. I keep it in a special spot when not in use. It's a work horse on the bench during comparadun tying, It was kinda hard to find. 

Well here's a Trashflies alternative. If you want to make one.

***

Materials:

3 T pins

Disposable ink pen

Cutters

Pliers

Knife or cutter

***

Steps

1.

Cut the T off three T-Pins

2.

Disassemble a used up cheap ball point pen.

3

Remove the ink tube

4

Cut off a piece of the tube. (where the ink wasn't)

5

Push the pins into the tube

6

Push the pins and the tube segment back into the tip holder

7

Cutt the pen body to desired length

8

Work some CDC

Note:

You catch the stem of the CDC feather between the needles. Hold the butt end. Turn the tool. Stoke the fibers forward, Slip off. The fibers are bunched and the stem is clumped. Tie in the clump. Clip the stem off.

'Stay Clever and Trashy My Friends'

Dedicated to my son, Bailey. I Love you.

Multi Vise Base Demo from 2009

SCUD Trash Fly style with Rubber Hair Bands

As many of your are aware lots of places we fish have great scud populations. Trout love to eat them. They reside in tail waters. One of my personal favorite spots to drown a bug.

Well I was standing in line at a local little store buying supplies for another little experiment. That one was more teaching related so I'll not share here at this time. As I waited my turn I noticed this rack of hair rubber bands in a wide range of color. Flexible and thin rubber. So my mind ran to scuds and there shell back. Oh well that isn't weird for me. Got a pack or two. Cheap $1 for 500. Note you can make two or three per band. So lifetime supply. Also they come in clear and black.

In my favorite tail water the ________ _________ in  ___________ purple seems to get a favored response.  The actual shrimp alive in more of a mahogany. Dead washed out pink or orange,

Here's what came out of my find. 

Recipe
Hook #12 Scud TMC 2457
Tail Grouse Hackle Fluff
Body Hairline Nymph Olive
Back Rubber Hair Band
Rib Fine Copper Wire

Step 1
Place a scud hook in your vise.

Step 2

Thread the hook

Step 3 

Tie in the tailing materials. I used grouse from the Trash bag left from tying Kembari patterns earlier.

Step 4

Tie in shell back (Rubber Hair Band)

Step 5 

Dub the hook.

Step 6

Pull shell forward. Tie down.

Step 7

Rib with the wire. Tie down.

Step 8

Add a drop of glue. (Your Choice)

Step 9 

Use a dubbing pick to pull out the dub to create legs for your scud.

Hope it gets you a few fish. Maybe saves you some coin. Even just lets you chuckle at how wierd my mind is :)

Stay Clever and Trashy My Friends.

Dedicated to my son, Bailey. I Love You.

Flip-Flop's are great material

Okay here is a little known fact about me. I can't wear flip-flops. Not at all. Fall on my butt and I hate the way they feel on my feet. But it appears I am in the minority of the population in the warm months. Slap slap slap goes the rest of the world. Well it appears also that a lot of these things get lost, broken, or abandon on the stream or lakes of the world.

I collect them. Imagine that :)

I cut cylinders as probably several of you do for poppers. Great bass and bluegill offerings indeed.

Recently I started down the Tenkara path. I am trying to keep a simple technique as simple as possible. aka affordable.

Above is some carving on some collected stock.

Spools for my leaders. (I furled the leaders myself)

Thought i would share. Tools shown are all that's needed. 'Stay Clever And Trashy My Friends'

Dedicated to my son, Bailey. I love you.

Coat Hanger Bodkin

Ever break one of those inexpensive plastic cloths hangers?  I do regularly. Well I did this morning. Noticed it was hollow. Probably why it broke.

You can never have to many bodkins. Spread glue, clean eyelets, spread UV resin, and such.

Had a box of T-pins. And here the idea that grew out of that.

Fold back the pins T to the needles shaft. Heat the pin. Stick in the hole in the middle of the shaft. Cools and set. Cut shaft to your preference.

Dedicated to my son, Bailey. I love you.

Strike Indicator made with Dollar tree and dentist materials

I was looking at strike indicators with a open mind. Again.

Strike indicators get a lot of thought and press through out the sport. There are so many styles available. You probably have your favorite. or favorite for different waters and conditions. Well I have mine. They have come from a variety of factors such as water speed, clarity, and fishing pressure. aka technical waters. I use a white 1/2" foam ball on clear or tail-water fish. Looks like a bubble and seems to not spook them.

On rivers and less technical those little white balls can be hard to see or pick out from the bubbles. You'll go blind trying to find them.

Been looking at these.


as seen on https://www.flyshack.com/DisplayItem.aspx?ItemID=22852

So knowing I like to make stuff myself. Here's a idea that has developed from  my research as well as just some go old Trash Fly hunting and tinkering.

Materials List

Dollar Tree: Foam sheets. (really thin) Really thin. $1.00

https://www.dollartree.com/toys/Craft-Supplies/Crafters-Square-Foam-Sheets-32-ct-Packs/629c1102c1102p297383/index.pro?method=search

Rubber band from braces. (New ie un used) Around $1 per 100 ct.

http://askanorthodontist.com/braces/what-do-the-elastic-rubber-bands-on-braces-do/

Tying thread and super glue.

Recipe

Step1
Take the foam and make 6 cuts about 2". Up to you for length. Make six thin strips. That makes 12 after folded.

Step 2
Slip a rubber band from braces, In the middle.

Step 3
Fold. Wrap with thread above the band. Tye or simply add a drop of superglue.

Testing it so on a couple of different bodies of water and situations.

This is a cheap one and pretty quick to make.

Prototype and test item

Dedicated to Bailey. I love you.

Rainbow Warrior with iridescent Christmas tensile.

Recipe
Hook: #16 Scud
Bead: Brass or Tungsten
Tail: Hackle scrap (Tan)
Underbody: Red thread
Overbody: Iridescent Christmas tensile
Wingcase: Pheasant tale (webby part)
Collar: UV Dubbing white

Tying video and story of the patterns origins.

Video: How to Tie the Rainbow Warrior

Around Christmas and Easter this stuff is in abundance. Afterwards it seems to go to the waste bin. Just say no to the useless waste of awesome, free, tying materials. Makes good over-bodies. Also great wing-case covers. I say save it. In the featured fly the Rainbow Warrior it is some powerful stuff. If you are apprehensive of the Trash Fly ways you need to remember that free is pretty cheap :) Also your already looked at by non tyers a weird so grab the gold when you can.

The rainbow warrior is a awesome trout pattern. I fished it in 'technical' tail-waters as well as easier streams. Produces like a champ.

Dedicated to my son Bailey. Love you.

KIS

Scud hook
Thread
Flash
Adhesive

Go catch fish.
Steps and details to come.

Easy is easy.

Popper and Spook

I have been trapped inside due to some rough weather and tight schedules. The idea of poppers and top water flies makes me long for warmer days.

Here's what I have been doing to stay off the cold.

Balsam Wood Popper #10

Spook Fly #2

Dedicated to my son, Bailey. I love you.

Bling Bass Popper

 Bling Bass Popper

Recipe

Hook: #6 Kink Shank

Body: Sheet Craft Foam

Eye: Stick on eye

Tail: Krystal Flash

Hackle: Grizzly die Green

Color: Black Sharpie

The idea came from a visit to Michel's Craft Store. Saw these textured sheets of sparkly closed cell foam.

Took a # 6 kink shank popper hook. Threaded it back to the hook point. Built up a body with a piece of white craft foam closed cell. Cut a piece of the sparkly green to fix around the white center build up. Mind leave the self stick backing on till the piece is cut to size. Coat the white with a glue such as brush on super glue. Peel the backing off. Place and hold briefly.

Place stick on eyes.

Coat the body and eye with a UV cure product.

 Finish dressing the fly with tail and hackle.

Written and photographed by Brad Sprinkle

Special Assistance from Trashflies intern Bailey Sprinkle

Dedicated to my son Bailey. I love you.